Citymakers 3: Pragmatics of the Picturesque: Strategies for the contemporary city

Antiquated and irrelevant or practical design tool? A visual indulgence and purely theoretical construct or does perhaps the Picturesque hold some clues to reconciling technical, economic and environmental imperatives with the need to design places for people?

Over three evening events, a selection of architects, planners, academics and journalists - explored what the picturesque means to them and whether it might be a useful frame through which to view contemporary urban development.

Both traditional and more current definitions of the picturesque are attempted, as are musings on how the picturesque might be repurposed as a tactic for achieving sustainable urban design. Different strands, including modernism and colonialism, are included with perspectives and projects drawn from Britain to Beirut.

This publication is the product of these dialogues, discussions, and perspectives with contributions from William Mann, Tim Stonor, Rashid bin Shabib, Otto Saumarez Smith, Lisa Woo, John Macarthur, Hendrik Heyns, Helen Logan, Graham Morrison, Emily Mann, Eelco Hooftman, Divya Subramanian, Dirk van den Heuvel, Cany Ash, Bob Allies, Antje Saunders, and Alfredo Caraballo.

ABOUT CITYMAKERS
Each year, the Citymakers series brings together developers, planners, architects, academics, journalists and collaborators to look beyond the boundaries between practitioners and the public; between a site and the city; between spaces and society. The conference is organised by Allies and Morrison.

ABOUT ALLIES AND MORRISON
Allies and Morrison is a practice of architects and urbanists based in London and Cambridge. We strive to design beautiful buildings that have long life and can adapt over the generations. We also shape enduring places whether new pieces of city or settlements at any scale. All our projects are concerned with the crafting of every detail and an appreciation for the uniqueness of each context.